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Gautam Gambhir Backs Shubman Gill as New Team India ODI Skipper — Was the Decision Rushed?

MENSXP | October 8, 2025 9:39 PM CST

India coach Gautam Gambhir appears to be working behind the scenes and slowly but surely is ushering in a new era of Indian cricket. The latest being the appointment of Shubman Gill as ODI skipper ahead of the series in Australia that starts on October 19. It was also believed that he was responsible for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from Tests earlier in the year and Ravichandran Ashwin calling time on his career late last year.

Gautam Gambhir Calling the Shots?

Now it seems that Gambhir has got Rohit replaced by Gill at the ODI helm. Gill is already the skipper in Tests and he may soon be leading in all formats as T20I skipper Suryakumar is 35 and is expected to be around for a couple of years or so while Gill is only 26. In other words Gill could be leading India in all formats well before he turns 30.

Did Gautam Gambhir Rush in Making Shubman Gill ODI Skipper?

While it all sounds good in being out with the old and in with the new, Gambhir may have rushed things here. The transition is not as smooth as it should be. Of course, he is not the only one to blame as the selectors should have foreseen this. But now we are in a situation where even as we prepare to move on from the likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami, the void is being too big to fill. These people have been consistent across formats in the past and getting rid of them too quickly will only hurt India in the long run.

Gautam Gambhir’s Focus on Two ICC Titles

Gambhir’s main focus is now the T20 World Cup that starts in four months. Then there is the ODI World Cup in late 2027. If he goes in without the resources that helped him win the Champions Trophy then the proper backup is needed. In the hurry to replace, Team India may be in a precarious position where the backup is not settled in but the veterans have gone. Then the players and the coach will be between a rock and a hard place.

Can India Fill the Void After the Legends Leave?

Winning the Asia Cup 2025 was the first step of preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026. But the T20I side is not the issue. The series in Australia begins the long preparation for the ODI World Cup 2027. With Gill in charge, a message is being sent to Kohli and Rohit that they may not be considered for the ICC event. The fact that Jadeja and Shami have not been included is a clear sign of the door being effectively shut on their ODI careers. Now the question is, you have done away with some big stars and are in the process of doing away with some more, so do you have the bench strength to replace them?

Having said that, Gambhir and Team India have time to prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup. By the end of 2026, a core team should be established. One hopes they maintain a combination of the old and the new because discarding experience completely is a disadvantage. Only time will tell if India’s transition was in the right way or did things just move too fast. Let’s wait and watch!